King Solomon's Mines Glossary

biltong

cantonment

diadem

drachm

Archaic spelling of "dram," the term for a coin or for a British measurement of 1/8 fluid oz.

foc'sle

Shortened form of "forecastle," used as a nautical term to identify the structure at the bow of a ship which houses the crew.

grog

A type of alcoholic beverage.

gutta-percha

Inelastic natural latex made from the sap of the Gutta-percha tree.

Hottentot

A now-derogatory term used by Europeans of the 19th Century to label the Khoikhoi peoples of Africa. This ethnic group was largely pastoral, but pre-literate enough to be considered "primitive" by Europeans of the late 1800s.

Kafir

An Arabic term, originally meant to indicate non-Muslims and applied to non-Muslim Africans. The term came into common usage by Europeans to refer to any African native.

kaross

A cloak made from the hide of a sheep or other livestock animal, with the hair left on.

koppie

A small hill rising up from African veldt.

kraal

Afrikaans word for an enclosure for livestock.

mackintosh

A waterproof raincoat made out of rubberized fabric.

mullah

A male religious teacher or learned man. From Islam, but used widely to refer to any African wise man by Europeans in the 19th century.

quagga

A subspecies of plains zebra, now extinct, which was found in South Africa.

quinine

An antimalarial, pain-killing, fever-reducing drug used often by travelers in Africa and other tropical regions.

scherm

An African dwelling; the word covers both tiny hovels and large huts.

tolla

Small throwing knives used by the Kukuanas people.

Transvaal

The area of South Africa north of the Vaal River. Largely wild and unexplored except by hunters and some natives in Haggard's time.